Self Care
Take a moment and consider how you’d talk to someone you love. Your words would be filled with gratitude & encouragement in an uplifting, gentle, supportive tone. Why do we talk to ourselves any differently? I know it feels like your body is working against you, but it's supporting you constantly. Here are my strategies for improving your relationship with yourself this Valentine’s Day.
Intentional nervous system work: Nervous system regulation and self love go so much deeper than practicing affirmations you don’t believe in the mirror. For me, learning the physiology behind why I was experiencing so many symptoms helped me realize how much my body was fighting for me, not against me. Your body’s #1 goal is survival. Pain, stability, proprioception, safety, dysautonomia, and so much more are rooted in the nervous system. For some, this will look like adding more movement, deep pressure, and sensory input. For others, this will look like more breathwork, weighted blankets, or less sensory input. Find what feels good for your body and do more of that!
Feel your grief and frustration: I encourage you to feel all the feelings, grieve over what your body is experiencing, thank your body for supporting you despite the pain, and remind yourself it’s okay to work within your capacity, even if it doesn’t look like someone else’s. There is real grief that comes with a chronic condition. Just because things are bad now doesn’t mean they’ll be bad forever, but we also need to be realistic that both ups and downs will occur.
Pace yourself: It’s so easy to get caught in all or nothing thinking. It’s also easy to compare where we’re at to where someone else is. It’s really hard, but your relationship with your body isn’t just a fling. We have to nurture a long term relationship with our bodies. This requires both a gentle push at times, as well as gentle rest and acceptance. Gentle movement still counts! I recommend trying a new movement this week or intentionally doing less of a movement you typically push yourself doing. Slow and steady is the way to get long term results.
Movement For Stress
I’ve found nervous system work to be much less exciting than traditional work. It feels like I’m doing nothing, which is often what I need. Try this stress relief based movement routine I shared through the free Move Through the Holidays series on YouTube!
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This blog is written based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Always ask your doctor for individual concerns and support.